Probe as refugee pupil denied flag role

Greece’s Education Ministry has launched an investigation after an Athens school refused to allow an 11-year-old refugee from Afghanistan to carry the Greek flag during the annual October 28 parade.

Amir had been picked by lot to represent his primary school in the suburb of Dafni, under new rules introduced by the leftist-led government that scrapped selection on the basis of academic merit.

In a statement, the ministry said that “the state guarantees that all pupils receive equal treatment.”

School director Evangelos Georgalas has denied allegations of discrimination.

“Reports do not correspond to the truth,” he told local media. “We are not racist.”